Customer Reviews

Custom Bicycles: A Passionate Pursuit

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a shame about this book. The Authors have hit on some interesting builders and some not...the book seems to have been put together by people who aren't passionate about bicycles or maybe don't know about what to put into a book for people who are...There are a few satisfying photos, but not many, its mostly artsy detail shots AND NEVER SHOWING YOU THE WHOLE FROM WHICH THE DETAIL WAS TAKEN...which is lame.
The writing also seems to miss, in that the one consistent point (made vaguely) is what music is playing in the builders studios at the time of interview...which could be interesting if there were real content.
At no piont are any specs of bicycles discussed in terms beyond the words steel, carbon fiber, and titanuim...

One of the great features of bicycling is that the bikes themselves can still be made to personal specifications by individual craftspeople or small shops. This book features both well known veterans, and a few newcomers, and shows all types of bikes -- from all-out racers, to touring bikes, to even a few "show" bikes that likely don't get ridden much (e.g., Craig Calfee's bamboo bike with bullhorn handlebars).

There are plenty of "coffee table" type books exploring other crafts -- hand made furniture, pottery, custom motorcycles, etc. -- but as far as I know this is the only widely available recent book showing the current state of the art of custom bike building. Many of these bikes appear to date from early 2008 (several of them were on display at the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show in Portland in February 2008, and were made about then). And most of the builders are "open for business:" except for two or three who have exceptionally long waiting lists, I think you could contact practically anyone in the book and get your own custom bike in a matter of weeks or months (more likely months than weeks).

A few quibbles - since the photos were collected from a variety of photographers from various sources in Europe, North America and Australia, the photos and layout lack a consistency or point of view about how to show a bike (as opposed to Jan Heine's book, "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles," which is about historic custom bikes, and which used a single photographer shooting bikes with a consistent, clean white background). As a result, while all the photos are good, in some cases the photos are not as useful as they could be (for example, there are way too many shots of Calfee's novelty bikes and not enough of his standard bamboo or carbon fiber bikes).

Anyway, that is just a quibble. It's a great book for any serious cyclist or anyone who enjoys fine craftsmanship.

Thirty-nine small (boutique) bicycle design and manufacture companies from Australia, Canada, the U.S., and Europe are catalogued with website references in an appendix. This alone would make the book of special interest for serious amateur bicyclists and competitors. But the book goes far beyond this with a section of a short essay on each company followed by half a dozen or so color photographs of its bicycles and close-ups of details of these. Some of the sections also have photographs of workshops, employees, manufacturing steps such as welding, and bikes in use for pleasure or competition.

Reading the essays on the companies gives an overview of design intents, ideas, and options for custom or limited-production bicycles and different types, uses, materials, and features. The essays also have information on the backgrounds of the founders of the small manufacturers, their attachment to the field, and the principles and aims in the design of their bicycles. In this material, readers will learn about advanced dimensions and trends of the field.

The illustrated book combining elements of a buyer's and consumer's guide and art-book appearance and quality makes an ideal gift for any bicycle enthusiast or an outstanding book on the technicalities and romance of the field for oneself.

The book stinks. Arbitrary collection of some bikes, some of them lovely, with artful pictures. Writing is terrible. And I mean _poor_. Highschool-bad. As previous reviewer notes, book was created by people who -- clearly -- had no fundamental connection and little familiarity with their subject matter. There is no author insight whatsoever, and builder "insight" is restricted to comments like "Bob takes special pride in fitting the bike to the rider," or "Gary gets goosebumps when he finally brazes the rear triangle." (These are not literal quotes, but)...Yeesh!

I -- and many of the probable (or intended) purchasers of this book could write a far better one.

Further deconstruction and/or constructive criticism is pointless without a solid basis, and this book doesn't provide one.

I don't know who the book is supposed to appeal to. Other reviewers have offered frankly puzzling comments; there is not sufficiently detailed or ample information presented to make this book a "guide" to anything beyond where to put a mug on a coffee table.

Honestly there isn't much custom bicycle books around. I am not sure about other language, but it is so for English published books. This is by far the best book about custom bicycles. It has become my bedtime story book since. True that each brand only takes up 5 pages or less, but the vast number of brands introduce in this book will push reader research further on the web. The book is printed in high quality glossy full color paper. A must have for all custom bicycles lover.

This book is packed full of fantastic photography and the most unique, sought after (and expensive) bicycles available.
Each time you look through the book you notice a different detail - there is an intersting introduction to each bike / frame builder too which gives a great insight into the minds and lives behind the concepts.

This book will stay with you for life - thoroughly recommended.

This is beautiful book for anyone who loves custom bicycles. The pictures are well-presented and the text describes some of the best known custom frame builders in the United States and overseas. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.